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The banjo was invented
"Music Folk Features: A Brief History of the Banjo." 2003. 21 Aug. 2014In reality the banjo originated hundreds of years ago somewhere on the African continent -
Period: to
The Banjo
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the first banjo in the United States
The banjo was brought to America by slaves from Africa
The first banjos in the United States had two, three or four strings made from horsehair, grass or catgut. -
Thomas Jefferson writes a letter about the slaves playing the Banjar (Banjo)
"History of the Banjo." Thomas Jefferson writes "The instrument proper to them (i.e. the slaves) is the Banjar, which they brought hither from Africa." -
"whites" started playing the banjo
" In the early 1800's, a few whites learned to play, such as the notable Joel Walker Sweeney, who learned the instrument from the people working on his father's farm." -
the most important development in the banjo's history
The addition of the shorter 'chanter,' 'drone,' 'thumb,'or fifth string created a more pleasant sound. -
musicians started fingering plucking
As the Civil War rolled around, some musicians (probably influenced by the guitar) turned away from the old style of playing and started finger-picking the banjo -
Frets were added
frets are the ridges of wood set across the fingerboard, which helps the finger stop the strings at any correct point -
the banjos popularity lapsed
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Earl scruggs revives the banjo
revived banjo with album "foggy mountain breakdown" -
Today, the Banjo is used in varius country music
Thankfully the Banjo has not fullied died out and is still in todays country music.
